Town · Maryland
Hancock, Maryland
Hancock, town, in Washington County, Maryland. Hancock had 1,581 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,557 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,625 (±451). GEOID 2436600.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,581
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,557 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,625 ±451
Median household income
$34,886
±$10,327 (90% margin)
Maryland: $103,678
Median home value
$190,900
±$42,511 (90% margin)
Maryland: $419,900
Median gross rent
$924
±$210 (90% margin)
Maryland: $1,705
Where is Hancock and what county is it in?
Hancock is a town in Washington County, Maryland. It covers 3.0 square miles of land, 523 residents per square mile in 2020.
Hancock is in the Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Hancock, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,581 people lived in Hancock on July 1, 2025, up 2.0% since 2020, faster than Maryland (+1.4%). The 2020 Census counted 1,557 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,625 (±451).
| Measure | Hancock | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,625 ±451 | 155,709 | no clear change |
| Households | 799 ±189 | 59,818 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.03 ±0.24 | 2.48 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 928 ±179 | 64,145 | no clear change |
Hancock's population since 2000
From 1,725 in 2000 to 1,581 in 2025: down 8.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Hancock as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Hancock?
The median resident of Hancock is 41.8 years old; 24.2% are under 18 and 19.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.6%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 6.4%.
| Measure | Hancock | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 ±10.2 | 40.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.2% ±6.8 pts | 21.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.0% ±6.3 pts | 18.1% | – |
| Male | 41.2% ±4.7 pts | 50.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.0% ±2.6 pts | 7.9% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 91.6% ±6.5 pts | 73.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±1.3 pts | 11.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.6 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.4% ±6.5 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.0% ±2.6 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.0% ±2.1 pts | 7.1% | – |
| With a disability | 16.4% ±6.3 pts | 15.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.1% ±4.6 pts | 6.3% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.6% ±5.7 pts | 88.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 10.2% ±4.2 pts | 24.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.2% ±2.5 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 84.9% ±8.4 pts | 88.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.4% ±2.7 pts | 2.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Hancock earn?
Half of Hancock's 799 households earn less than $34,886 a year (±$10,327), against $77,747 in Washington County and $103,678 in Maryland. In 2015-2019 the median was $56,105 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $21,219 after inflation. 23.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Hancock | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $34,886 ±$10,327 | $77,747 | −$21,219 |
| Mean household income | $53,603 ±$9,024 | $99,335 | – |
| Per capita income | $26,201 ±$4,233 | $39,035 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 23.7% ±10.6 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 33.1% ±25.7 pts | 16.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 27.8% ±9.9 pts | 15.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 86.0% ±6.8 pts | 93.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 79.1% ±8.5 pts | 88.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Hancock?
Owners occupy 57.9% of Hancock's occupied homes and renters 42.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $190,900 by its owner (±$42,511). The median renter pays $924 a month including utilities, and 65.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Hancock | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $190,900 ±$42,511 | $296,100 | +$48,263 |
| Median gross rent | $924 ±$210 | $1,147 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 65.3% ±14.6 pts | 38.1% | +30.8 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,236 ±$230 | $1,715 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 57.9% ±11.0 pts | 66.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 42.1% ±11.0 pts | 33.2% | – |
| Housing units | 928 ±179 | 64,145 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.7% ±3.3 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.6% ±6.1 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 62.6% ±9.7 pts | 62.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.8% ±2.7 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±4.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.4% ±2.1 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 31.7% ±9.6 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 13.0% ±6.1 pts | 7.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Hancock building?
Hancock last reported building permits to the Census Bureau for 2023.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Hancock work and get to work?
72.9% of Hancock's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 37.3 minutes.
| Measure | Hancock | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 49.6% ±10.2 pts | 59.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.7% ±2.6 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 72.9% ±13.7 pts | 74.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 19.2% ±13.1 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±6.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.8% ±1.4 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.1% ±5.6 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 37.3 min ±5.4 | 28.8 min | +9.1 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Hancock?
No census tract lies mostly in Hancock; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 107Washington County | 3,163 | $58,650 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Hancock) · Census block assignment files
How does Hancock compare with other places in Maryland?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Hancock is the 8,563rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 86th-most populous of 157 in Maryland.
Hancock ranks 321st of 322 places in Maryland with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 86th | 157 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 43rd | 99 |
| Residents per square mile | 300th | 326 |
| Median household income | 321st | 322 |
| Per capita income | 317th | 326 |
| Median home value | 313th | 323 |
| Median gross rent | 271st | 288 |
| Poverty rate | 13th | 230 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 322nd | 325 |
| Median age | 121st | 326 |
| Owner-occupied share | 254th | 323 |
| Travel time to work | 51st | 325 |
Hancock's figures with every place in Maryland (CSV)
Every place in Maryland, sortable · Compare Hancock with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Hancock?
21 of the 57 figures for Hancock on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Hancock are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Hancock.